German Leadership

Death in Prague (4)

On 27 May, 1942, assisted by other "Anthropoid" operatives and Czech resistants, Gabcik and Kubis attacked Heydrich's open-topped limousine as it proceeded (in usual reckless fashion) through Prague. The attack was planned for an acute road bend on Heydrich's regular route, as the car would have to slow to a crawl to negotiate the bend. Gabcik attempted to fire on Heydrich with a Sten submachine gun but (as often happened) the Sten jammed at the critical moment. Almost immediately, Kubis hurled a mine-grenade (a sort of cross between a hand-grenade and an antitank mine). He missed getting it into the car, but it exploded powerfully against the rear-side of the vehicle, peppering Heydrich with bits of metal from the car and the mine, and of the rear car seat (leather and horse-hair). Heydrich appeared to have survived relatively intact, and attempted to pursue Gabcik (Kubis seemed worse off; he was wounded in the forehead by shrapnel from the mine). However, Heydrich soon collapsed, complaining of severe back pain. He ordered his driver, Klein (inappropriately named; he was, apparently, a big man) to pursue Gabcik, but the latter escaped, wounding Klein in both legs in the process (his pistol was more reliable than the Sten). Kubis also escaped the scene. Heydrich was removed to hospital, where he received attention from local Czech and German doctors and consultants ordered from Berlin. In spite of a serious wound, he initially appeared to recover well. However, the doctors were aware from an early stage that foreign material had penetrated a number of areas of his body, including what were identified as fragments of car body and seat in his spleen. It would appear that these fragments carried serious infection into his body (the horsehair from the seat would have been particularly hazardous). Surgeons attempted to counter this with substantial surgical intervention, including a splenectomy, but to no avail. The Germans at the time lacked any effective antibiotic to combat the infection that had already set in. Heydrich's condition suddenly declined, and he died in hospital on 4 June, 1942, aged 38. JR.